EngD at TU/e

Source: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school/engd-at-tue Parent: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/bachelor-college

Ready for more after your master’s?

Looking to continue learning, gain hands-on experience, and discover your strengths in high-level technological design? The Engineering Doctorate (EngD) at TU/e offers a unique two-year paid traineeship that bridges academia and industry.

Why choose an EngD?

Apply for an EngD at TU/e and become a top-level technological designer
Explore your interests and different roles in technological design,
Gain experience in various organizations and company cultures,
Develop both your professional and technical skills,
Enjoy more freedom than a traditional job straight after your MSc,
Build a strong network and increase your career opportunities,

What makes the EngD programs unique

Earning and learning

Paid position with no tuition fees, bridging the gap between academia and work. - ### Valorization

Apply your theoretical knowledge directly in practice: make a real-life, practical contribution to a company or science in general. - ### Multi-disciplinary way of working

Freedom to explore working in various roles and international teams. - ### Career prospects

Excellent kick-start for a career in the industry or healthcare. Strong connections within the industry, especially in the Brainport region. - ### Professional supervision

Support from experienced scientific design professionals. - ### Skill development

Broadens your technical experience and professional skills, helping you to discover your strengths and interests.

Why an EngD at TU/e?

TU/e is located in the heart of Brainport Eindhoven – Europe’s leading innovation hub – and offers a unique gateway to industry. More than 5,000 high-tech and IT companies, including Philips, NXP, and ASML, collaborate within this ecosystem, and TU/e is well embedded in it.

Choosing an EngD program at TU/e means accelerating your path toward a successful career in industry. Our graduates are highly sought after by top companies in the Brainport region and beyond. You’ll gain from world-class academic expertise, strong industry partnerships, and a supportive international community.

TU/e: Where technology, design, and industry meet

At TU/e, you’ll find more than just a place to study – you’ll discover an inspiring environment that combines international community, strong industry connections, innovative learning, and a vibrant campus life:

A global campus: Join a truly international community with students and staff from over 100 nationalities - where diversity drives innovation and English is the norm.
Welcoming & well-connected: Enjoy a safe, student-friendly city with international services, great accessibility, and a campus right next to the train station and close to the airport.
Learn by solving real-world challenges: Through Challenge-Based Learning (CBL), you’ll work in multidisciplinary teams on real industry and societal problems - preparing you for the future.
More than just studying: TU/e offers a vibrant student life with countless social and cultural activities, such as the largest student sports center in the Netherlands, offering over 75 sports and group classes right on campus, and an on-campus international cinema.
See all EngD programs at TU/e

General structure of an EngD program

1/3 of the program (mostly in year 1):

Deepen your technological knowledge
Learn and apply advanced design methods
Develop professional and communication skills
Work on smaller training projects

~2/3 of the program (generally in year 2):

Carry out a large technological design project (10–12 months)
Collaborate with a company, healthcare institution, startup, or public organization

The exact balance of training and project work may vary by program.

How to apply for an EngD position

EngD programs have a formal application and selection procedure. Applications are open to graduates from the Netherlands and abroad.

Requirements

A Master of Science degree (or equivalent), preferably in the exact sciences
Strong academic performance and motivation
A design-oriented mindset
Excellent English language skills
For the Dutch-taught programs Clinical Informatics and Qualified Medical Engineer:\ → C1 or C2 level in Dutch is required (Dutch is the working language)
Check our actual vacancies for an EngD position

Talk to a TU/e student – anytime, anywhere

Want to know what life at TU/e is really like? Chat directly with our students via Unibuddy!

Easy and online — chat in your own language
Over 40 nationalities represented
Filter by study program or area of interest
Get honest insights from someone who’s been in your shoes
START YOUR CHAT NOW AND GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED

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## CHAT WITH OUR ENGD STUDENTS

They are happy to answer your questions and share their experiences!

EngD stories: why an EngD?

[### Oindrila Ghosh

ENGD SMART BUILDINGS & CITIES, BUILDING PERFORMANCE](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/oindrila-ghosh)

Robin Mennens

[### Rameez Ismail

EngD Automotive System Design](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/rameez-ismail)

[### Trajche Masinov

EngD Software Technology](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/trajche-masinov)

[### Finn Vossen

EngD Smart Energy Buildings & Cities](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/finn-vossen)

[### Joyce van Sluis

EngD Qualified Medical Engineering](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/joyce-van-sluis)

[### Ravi Thakkar

EngD Data Science](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/ravi-thakkar)

[### Sophie Cramer

EngD Qualified Medical Engineer](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/sophie-cramer)

[### Nastaran Bajalan

EngD Software Technology](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/nastaran-bajalan)

[### Uchenna Agbarakwe

EngD Process and Product Design](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/uchenna-agbarakwe)

Maaike de Jong

[### Mariya Yurchenko

EngD Data Science](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/mariya-yurchenko)

[### Rabia Zainab Syeda

EngD Design of Electrical Engineering Systems track ICT](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/rabia-zainab-syeda)

[### Zechuan Li

EngD Design of Electrical Engineering Systems - Healthcare Systems Design](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/zechuan-li)

[### Kirsten de Wilde

EngD Clinical Informatics](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/kirsten-de-wilde)

Pieta van der Molen

Difference between EngD and PhD

An EngD is a two-year, design-oriented program with a practical focus and strong industry connections, leading to a career as a technological top-designer, while a PhD is a four-year, research-driven program focused on fundamental academic research, preparing you to become an independent researcher. An EngD program is on par with a PhD program.


EngD	Two-year program, more practical and networking context
PhD	Four-year program, more theoretical and in-depth research


EngD	Design assignment in high-tech industry or healthcare
PhD	Fundamental research at university or in collaboration with industry


EngD	Become a technological top-designer
PhD	Become an independent researcher

EngD	PhD
Two-year program, more practical and networking context	Four-year program, more theoretical and in-depth research
Design assignment in high-tech industry or healthcare	Fundamental research at university or in collaboration with industry
Become a technological top-designer	Become an independent researcher

More about PhD

Some characteristics of our trainees (2023)

227 trainees; of which 44% female
International community; 40 nationalities
Age: half of the trainees are between 25 and 29 years old.

Other EngD programs in the Netherlands

All EngD programs in the Netherlands are offered under the umbrella of 4TU.School for Technological Design, Stan Ackermans Institute (4TU.SAI) - a joint initiative of the four universities of technology: Eindhoven, Twente, Delft, and Wageningen. The institute also collaborates with the University of Groningen. In total, there are 18 different EngD programs available across these five institutions, of which 8 EngD programs in Eindhoven

Events and information

Each year, TU/e hosts several events - both on campus and online - where you can meet our EngD trainees and get answers to all your questions. In the spring, the TU/e Career Expo and the TU/e Master’s Open Day take place.

Throughout the year, there are also online EngD information sessions where current trainees share their experiences and answer your questions. The TU/e Open Day is also held annually, with both online and live editions. We look forward to meeting you!

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[### Master's Open Day

Visit the TU/e during the open day of our Graduate School](https://www.tue.nl/en/education/mystarttue/masters-open-day)### Brochures

[### TU/e event calendar

see the TU/e event calendar for upcoming events

Read more](https://www.tue.nl/en/our-university/calendar-and-events) - [### email

e-mail the EngD Communications Office